Peanut-threshing machine.



C. R. LIVERMON.

PEANUT THRESHING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. I915.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915 mw'm.

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CARL R. LIVERMON, OF ROXOBEL, NORTH CAROLINA.

PEANUT-THRESHING MACHINE.

Original application filed March 17, 1914, Serial No. 825,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL R. LIVERMON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of RoXobel, in the county of Bertie and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPeanut-Threshing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in peanut threshing machines, andit consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements hereindescribedand claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which thepeanuts may be stripped from the vines and delivered in a perfectcondition.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which will nottend to clog up, but in which the vines are so treated as to be keptfrom clogging up the machine and thereby delaying the operation of thedevice.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of peanutthreshing machine having means for tearing the vines to pieces and forpositively pulling the peanuts off from the vines, thereby preventingthe loss of peanuts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specificationand the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through the device, and Fig. 2is a sectional view of a portion of the device.

This application is a division of a prior application, Serial Number825268, filed March 17, 191 1.

In carrying out my invention I provide a main frame 1 mounted on wheels2. This frame bears a series of drums such as those shown at A, B, andC, which are mounted transversely on the frame upon their respectiveaxles a, b, and 0. Each of the drums is provided on its exterior with aseries of spring fingers of the form set forth hereinafter.

At one end of the frame 1 is a table 3 upon which the peanut vines areplaced preparatory to feeding them to the drums. Extending underneaththe drums is a continuous screen 4, which forms a series ofSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1141, 1%15.

Divided and this application filed April 26,

Serial No. 23,841.

curves, each curve being concentric with the axis of its particulardrum. Suspended from the frame 1 is a V-shaped chute 5 having a centralopening 9 through which the peanuts may be delivered into a chute 10. Afan 11 is run by any convenient source of power and has a discharge pipe12 which delivers a blast of air at right angles to the dropping peanutsso as to blow out any chaff or dirt through the air passage 18.

The device which is described thus far is ordinary. The particularfeatures which are regarded as novel features of the inventipn are thosewhich are described hereina ter.

Supported on the frame 1 adjacent to the.

table 3 is a series of spring fingers 14:. These extend downwardly andterminate in curved ends which normally rest upon the screen A. Thescreens underneath the drums A and C are provided with engaging mem berssuch as those shown at 15. It will be observed that these are fastenedto cross members 16 and that they consist in reality of spring teeth. Itwill be noted that the teeth do not extend in radial lines, but thatthey are inclined substantially at 45 from the radial lines.Furthermore, each of the teeth has a portion which is substantiallyparallel with the bottom of the screen.

As will be seen from Fig. 1 the central screen portion underneath thedrum B is normally engaged by a series of spring arms 17 which arecarried by means of a curved bracket 18 secured to the frame 1.

The drums A and B are shown as provided with spring arms 19 which aremounted on the periphery of the drum. It will be understood that as manyof these spring arms 19 may be employed as necessary without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

The drum C is shown as being provided with spring arms 20 and 21, theformer being similar to the arms 19 and the latter consisting of longsprings which normally intermesh with the arms 20.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

The peanut vines with the peanuts attached are fed into the machine fromthe table 3. The drums are revolved by any suitable means in thedirection shown by the arrows. The teeth 19 of the drum. A enter betweenthe teeth 14 and engage the vines, pulling them down past the points ofthe spring arms 14 which tend to resist the movement, thus tearing offthe peanuts free from the vines. The spring teeth 15 further resist thetravel of the vines and tear the peanuts off, but these spring teethalso tear the vines up. That portion of the teeth 15 which issubstantially parallel to the screen tends to keep the vines off fromthe bottom of the screen so as to give the peanuts a chance to fallthrough the screen upon the chute 5. Furthermore, it raises the vinesinto a position where the ends of the spring arms 19 can strip thepeanuts from the bcttom of the vines more readily. The upwardly turnedends of the spring teeth 15 tend to retard the travel of the vines andalso to pull them to pieces.

As the vines are swept out of the first screen section by means of thespring arms 19 of the drum A, they are engaged by the spring arms 19 ofthe drum B. These spring arms 19 of the drum B pass between the springarms 17 which act as retarding members for the vines, thus tending togive the teeth 19 a chance to strip the peanuts from the vines byproviding a resisting force. As the vines pass from the drum B to thedrum C, they are engaged by the double springs 20 and 21. The spring 20tends to sweep the vines forwardly, while the springs 21 tend to holdthe vines downwardly upon the spring teeth 15. lhis insures the finalstripping of the peanuts from the vines, since it will be observed thatwhile the spring arms 20 drive the vines-forwardly, the spring teeth 15tend to hold the vines back and to permit the arms 20 to strip thepeanuts from them. At the same time the arms 21 prevent the vines fromjumping the teeth 15.

The peanuts pass down the chute 5 through the opening 9 and fall intothe delivery chute 10.- During their passage from the chute 5 to thedelivery chute 10, any chaff which has passed through the screen isblown out by the blower 11.

It will thus be seen that with a device as described, there is nothingthat tends to in jure the shells of the peanuts or to crush extending inthe drum.

them, while at the same time providing a thoroughly effective method forpulling them from the vines.

I claim 1. In a peanut threshing device, a frame, a drum mountedtherein, a series of spring arms carried by said drum, a screen disposedunderneath said drum and concentric therewith, a stationary bracketcarried by the frame, a series of spring arms carried by said stationarybracket and arranged to engage the upper surface of the screen, thespring arms of the drum being arranged to intermesh with the spring armscarried by said stationary b 'acket.

2. In a peanut threshing device, a frame, a drum mounted therein, aseries of spring arms carried by said drum, said spring arms extendingfrom the periphery of the drum at an angle to a normal to the drum, ascreen disposed underneath said drum and concentric therewith,stationary bracket carried by the frame, a series of spring arms carriedby said stationary bracket and arranged to engage the upper surface ofthe screen, the spring arms of the drum being aranged to intermesh withthe spring arms carried by said stationary bracket.

3. In a peanut threshing device, a frame, a drum mounted therein, aseries of spring arms carried by said drum, said spring arms extendingfrom the periphery of the drum at an angle to a normal to the drum, in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum, a screendisposed underneath said drum and concentric therewith, a stationarybracket carried by the frame, a series of spring arms carried by saidstationary bracket and arranged to engage the upper surface of thescreen, the spring arms of the drum being arranged to intermesh with thespring arms "arried by said stationary bracket, and the last named armsdirection of rotation of the CARL R. LIVERMON.

W'itnesses:

J. M. JACOBS, S. J. F ORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

